Determinants of functional mobility in children with cerebral palsy in three different environments: A registry-based study

ABSTRACT

Background

Functional mobility in children with cerebral palsy (CP) varies widely and is affected by many factors related to the child and environment. Understanding this variability in child’s natural environments: home, school, and community; and its determinants are important for effective child management.

Methods

This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the functional mobility of children with CP within home, school, and community, and explore its determinants. Participants were 107 children with CP (aged 6.4 ± 2.9 years). Functional Mobility Scale was the outcome variable. Potential determinants included child-associated impairments and interventions. Three ordinal logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Results

Children in Gross Motor Functional Classification System-Expanded and Revised level I walked without assistive devices in all environments, while children in levels II/III used different mobility methods in different environments. Children in levels IV/V used a wheelchair or had no form of functional mobility in all environments. Determinants of mobility varied across different environments but included impairments (visual impairments, scoliosis) and interventions (Botox, medications for spasticity, orthoses).

Conclusions

Child impairments and interventions received should be considered when exploring mobility options for children with CP in different environments. Further research is needed to examine other environmental and personal factors affecting mobility.

KEYWORDS:

• Cerebral palsy
• functional mobility
• GMFCS-E&R
• environment

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work has been carried out during sabbatical leave granted to the author (Maysoun Saleh) from the University of Jordan during the academic year 2020-2021.